UGONMA, THE REJECTED ONE.
Episode one.
The early morning breeze blew in a way that could make a young Agboro boy beg for his cigarettes. Perhaps to keep himself warm, or for some other reason. It was the kind of cold in which married couples cuddled themselves, some naive teenagers ran into the arms of their lovers in the name of weather for two, and committed abomination.
Ugonma lay in the kitchen. She was not sleeping, she was awake. Silent. Watching. Her thought wandered back to what had happened years ago. She should be 2 or 3. Her Grandmother Oluoma had said to her one night,
"Dimma, you're my child's seed and you're the apple of my eyes. I hope you won't fail me. I believe strongly in you..."
"Mama, you're speaking to me in a way that's emotional", Little Ugonma had said.
"My daughter, you're my only grandchild. Do not fail me. I'm not sure I'll be alive to see you reach the top but Ugonma, I believe you're not made for small. You'll thrive, Ugonma", Mama Oluoma said.
"Thank you, mama", small Ugonma had said.
After that tr@gic incident, Ugonma grew up praying earnestly to the gods of the land, begging them to preserve her mother's life.
With both parents gone, there was no one to care for or love her. Her parents had died mysteriously shortly after her birth, and because of the strange circumstances, they were denied a proper burial.
Instead, their bodies were cruelly thrown into the evil forest, a place feared by many.
Her father, Maazi Okoro, was once a respected man, but now his memory was shadowed by darkness, leaving Ugonma alone to face a harsh, lonely world.
That eke day, her father, Maazi Okoro, had gone to the farm to tap some fresh palm wine to sell.
Unaware, a deadly snake lurked at the top of the tree.
As he reached up, the snake bit him sharply, causing him to lose balance and fall from the tree. The bite was ven omous and sudden, leaving him h elpless.
No one knew what had really happened. Ugonma's mother was terr ified and began searching everywhere for her husband after returning from the market. She couldn't find him anywhere.
Later, she was shocked to see men who had been night hunting bringing in her husband's lifeless body.
The trag edy marked the beginning of a d ark chapter for Ugonma, as her father's mysterious death shook their family and left her mother alone to face an uncertain future.
People in the community turned against Ugonma's mother, accusing her of witchcraft and evil charms. Rumors spread like wildfire, claiming that her supposed evil powers had caused her husband's de ath. They believed she had used dark magic to keel him, and because of this, her reputation was shattered. The villagers began to call her a 'wit ch,' casting shadows of sus picion and fear over her.
The worst part was when they accused her of being so wicked that she deserved a punishment severe enough to match her supposed crimes. In their superstition and anger, they decided that she should be buried alive alongside her d ead husband. The community saw it as a way to rid themselves of her evil influence. So, on a dark, ominous day, they prepared a burial that was anything but normal.
Ugonma was just a small girl, trembling with fear, as her mother was taken away to face this cruel fate. The villagers gathered around the grave site, muttering prayers and curses. Her mother begged for mercy, tears streaming down her face, but no one listened. They believed this harsh punishment would keep evil away from the land.
Ugonma was helpless, so she went to live with her maternal grandmother. But at age 10, she lost her grandmother too. Alone again, she had no choice but to move in with her uncle.
Ugonma shouted as she stood up.
"Aunty, good morning", she managed to say.
"Guru morning nke gi. What says the time", her aunt replied.
"Aunt, I'm feeling cold. You shouldn't have poured the whole bucket of water on me. I was awake but thinking", Ugonma said.
"Thinking of what? Of your numerous boyfriends or how to snatch my husband?", She inquired.
Ugonma kept mute.
"Leave my sight! Go and start your work!", she commanded.
"Under the rain again?", Ugonma asked.
"Go and ask it of your parents", her aunt had replied.
Every day was like that. It wasn't new to Ugonma and would never be. Ugonma this, Ugonma that. She never appreciated the young girl's kindness and effort.
But Ugonma knew one thing: He who does good, does for himself.
To be continued by
Do you think Ugonma would succeed there?